Most people usually mask their real personalities in an effor to gain greater social acceptance in situations where they are expected to act in a socially normative way. These people don’t know that personality describes the unique thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that distinguish people from one another.
In principle, knowing what your personality is – who really you are as a person – can help you learn more about yourself and other people around you as well. More importantly, knowing yourself can help you identify your ability and inability, understand your emotions and intentions, and manage your behavior in different occasions.
Hinbir’s recognition that he had become the fool who challenged the philosopher didn’t mean that he ignored to stand up more for his own personality and instead cared too much about Hanad’s thoughts. In contrast, it meant that Hinbir was under no illusions that Hanad’s argument was more realistic, more refined and more transformatiional than his. It also meant that appreciation of Hanad’s suggestions or thoughts was part of the unique behavior that distinguished Hinbir from others, particularly those people who neither propose suggestions nor appreciate what others suggest.
Hinbir departed from Hanad with a divided
mind, having opposing views as to whether
or not he would see Hanad again, in view of the following reasons.
Firstly, Hinbir saw Hanad as a role model, a person who could set an example for all. He overwhelmed with Hanad’s emotional intelligence, values and behavior thar were worthy of immitation. Hinbir wished that he should not leave and lose Hanad’s friendship. Moreover, Hanad’s knowledgeability impressed Hinbir.
Secondly, Hinbir saw that Hanad’s mission – research – was a complex issue that needed more than ‘fact-finding assessment’ and was even higher, much higher than collecting Hinbir’s or someone else’s opinion and ideas (general information/knowledge).
Thirdly, Hinbir was among those people who were, in letter and spirit, okay with bad governace and its accompanying mannerism and did not like to engage himself in critisizing government policies and worried about being seen with a prominent political dissident, assuming that Hanad was a member of opposition parties.
Doubt is just a frustrating thought, an inability to make a decision, if not a fear to forget everything. Hinbir referred back to his doubts when he went to his home for a while and figured out that they were full of unconvincing points, particularly hesitation in meeting with Hanad again and fear of being seen with Hanad. He laught at himself, as he felt that it was a rather foolish thing to fear something someone else was doing. Hinbir finally arrived at the conclusion that a matter of having a discussion with a learned citizen was not a crime, but a credibility that he could earn.
After three consecutive days, Hanad and Hinbir met together, greeted each other warmly, sat together and continued their informal, free-flowing and frank sharing information discussion which they used to hold it in a local restaurant.
“Thanks for coming,” said Hanad.
“You are welcome.”
“You said in our last meeting that poverty is many and varies from time to time. The statement is somewhat puzzling. Can you please elaborate on how does poverty vary with time and place?,” asked Hinbir
“Poverty starts from a shortage of resources that can satisfy the basic needs of a person or society in a given time and place. For example, a society is considered poor when its income level falls below a given minimum level necessary to fulfill the basic needs ”
“Generally,” Hanad continued, “resources (stock, assests, money) that are necessary
to satisfy basic needs become quantifiably different at different times and in different places. This variation of what is necessary to satisfy the basic needs of a society as times change, raises the cost of living standards, and thus developed countries become obliged to have measuring poverty lines accordjng to their social and economic situations ”
Hinbir had never heard that there are different types of poverty. Nor had he ever seen a government using measures that indicate the estimated minimum level of income needed to secure the necessities of life. Hinbir knew only that people are poorer and richer than the other and that the poor suffers from the lack of comforts of life and that the rich enjoys freedom from constraints.
“What are the different types of poverty,” asked Hinbir with a withering look.
“Which signifies what?.”
“It signifies my interest to know the most severe type of poverty.”
“Basically types of poverty are many, but the most severe ones are: a) Penury which is a condition in which homelessness and begging in streets are the norm, b) Indigence which is a condition in which real hardships and deprivation of basic needs are suffered and comforts of life are wholly lacking, and c) Generational poverty which is when societies have experienced poverty for generations because of their failure to invest for future.”
“Excuse Mr. Hanad. What causes poverty?”
“Poverty mindset ” replied Hanad.
“What does that mean?”
“Having a poverty mindset means when people accept life as it comes to them, which is a fear or failure to try to shape their life as they want it to be in order to have enough. It is a pattern in which people always handle their life in the same way over and over again, even if it doesn’t work well for them. This way of living limits peoples’ capacity of thinking and traps their potential in a cycle of poverty-resistant state that holds them back by convincing them that they cann’t change their lives for the better,” concluded Hanad.
“How can I lift myself out of poverty?”
“Poverty is not only your problem. Poverty is a problem that all Somalis share in common across the board.”
“Who can lift all Somalis out of prevalent poverty? That is sheer nonsense.”
“Please expand your thinking and try to see what is there in the other side of the river. Poverty is, anywhere, a potential strife.”
“‘Mr. Hanad, please don’t philosophize the issue.”
“I am talking about national poverty. If we don’t look into poverty nationally, our capacity and capability to organize ideas, find out the root cause of poverty, collect suggestions, analyse collected ideas, and extract the best option to deal with it, we will never be able to find a solution to poverty.”
“Tell me, what makes you talk about poverty as a national pressing issue? Are you responsible for all people?”
“If it is not me and my likes’ responsibility, who else can be responsible for solving national problems?”
“Everyone is respinsible for solviing their problems. No one is responsible for another one’s problem.”
“If no one is responsible for another one’s crisis, why people need governments that protect people from each other, maintain law and order. Laws are necessary for society to function. Life in a society without laws would be unsafe and unpredictable,” Hanad asked.
“Our government maintains peace, that I know,. There is no doubt about that. But I don’t see it providing solutions for poverty alleviation and anything else of this sort,” returned Hinbir.
“Governance describes the way countries and societies manage their affairs politically and the way power and authority are exercised. Laying out a national economic plan is the most important job our government is obliged to fulfill,” returned Hanad
Hinbir stared at Hanad in amazement. He kept silent for a while, thinking about how he would use his mind actively to form connected ideas, but before he said anything, Hanad broke his silence and said, “Do you cast your vote during election times?”
“Of course I do.”
“Great.”
“In what sense my vote is great?”
“In the sense of ‘ought’ to.”
“I am sorry. I didn’t follow you.”
“Voting is a right. It is the language of a person’s choice. It is a principle and essential pillar for democracy, an ability to participate in civic life, to have a voice in choosing the elected officials whose decisions will affect the entire society.”
“I presume this is totally out of what we are talking about.”
“I will let you know how voting and its importance by implication do really relate to our discussion,” Hanad stated.
“Okay.”
“‘What are your thoughts on the political, economic and social forces that currently shape Somaliland country?”
“No comment.”
“If you cann’t comment on government policies and plans, what significance does your vote give? Your vote means nothing, if you cann’t have a say in how you are ruled and the affairs of your country are run.”
“Democracy,” Hanad continued, “is when people have a say in the governing of their country. The right to criticize what the government is doing is essential for accountability. Constructive opposition is always hailed as a crucial element for a deomocracy.”
“Mr, Hanad, still unable to understand the relationship between electing government officials and poverty alleviation.”
“The relationship is: Number one, a government is responsible for ensuring the social well-being of the people; number two, a government is obliged to perform duties in establishing laws and policies; number three, a government has a commitment to ensure that the country’s economy is functioning properly, which means controlling inflation, reducing level of poverty,, regulating the cost of living standards, providing public health services etc.”
“I got it now, because the relationship between the topics just decribes what Somaliland politics is all about, according to my understanding,” Hinbir said.
To be conginued….
By : Jamafalaag
Somaliland, Hargeisa
jamafalaag@gmail.com
As per usual the opinions expressed in this articale are those of the author and do not reflect the opinions of qarannews.com
